Terror Rising: Book 0 – The Insurgence by Roger Hayden Read Free Book Online Page A

him but was worried
that their troubles were just beginning. She felt grief for
Dawson—shame even, that it wasn’t her. Of course, she had no
intention of revealing such thoughts to Martinez. Perhaps he felt
the same way.
    She wished him a good night and pressed the
button on her keychain, unlocking the Camry. Martinez waved as he
got into his Jeep and cranked the engine. Once inside her car, she
sat for a moment with the engine running and waited for Martinez to
leave. His headlights flashed across her rearview mirror, and he
was off. With no one around, she leaned forward and rested her head
against the steering wheel, sobbing.

    Angela arrived home later that evening,
pulling into the driveway of her brick three-bedroom sanctuary,
located in a quaint neighborhood near Buena Vista Middle School,
where her daughters, Chassity and Lisa, attended school.
    Doug’s F150 was in the driveway, and she
could see a light on in the living room window. She looked at the
clock on her dashboard. It was 9:45. For the day she had, that
wasn’t too bad. Doug worked normal nine to five hours, which proved
to be an asset where their children were concerned.
    She turned off the engine and opened the
door, pausing for a moment to catch her breath. She felt like a
nervous wreck. What was she going to tell Doug? Maybe it could wait
until morning.
    The neighborhood was quiet with cars parked
in driveways under the glow of streetlights. She passed the front
of Doug’s truck and moved along the cement walkway leading to their
front door, past small lights planted in the ground.
    Doug was on the couch watching television
when she walked in. His short brown hair was parted to the side,
and he was wearing a Duke University T-shirt and sweat pants, his
typical evening wear.
    “Hi, honey,” he said to her.
    “Hey,” Angela said, walking into the
foyer.
    He muted the television set, took one look
at her, and rose from the couch, stunned. “What happened to you
today?”
    Her cover was blown. She hadn’t had a chance
to clean up yet, which she immediately regretted. “Nothing. Just a
long day at the office, that’s all.”
    He walked toward her, not buying it. “You’re
a mess.”
    She set her purse on the nearest end table
and tried to make it to the kitchen but found herself blocked as he
stood in her way.
    “Talk to me, Angela. Is everything okay?”
She could see the two days’ growth on his thin face, a light shade
of brown stubble. He was trying to grow a beard again. That, or
maybe he was overworked too.
    “Everything’s fine. I just want to have a
quick snack and go to bed.”
    She glanced at the television and saw live
coverage of the blast still playing out. Reporters had swarmed the
cordoned area, desperate for a story. An official statement from
Homeland Security claimed that the explosion was unrelated to
terror. However, a spokesman did say that all avenues were
currently being pursued. Angela understood not wanting to incite
panic, but to outright lie to the public?

    “Your coming home late wouldn’t have
anything to do with this, would it?” Doug asked, pointing to the
TV.
    Angela paused, wanting to tell him
everything, but she didn’t think she was ready for it.
    “Angela, talk to me,” he said.
    She couldn’t fight it any longer and rushed
to his arms, burying her face in his chest. “We lost an agent
today. A truck was rigged with explosives. We didn’t see it coming.
My God…”
    Tears began to flow, as Doug’s comforting
arms closed around her, his hands rubbing the back of her dirty
uniform.
    “It’s okay…” he said. “Everything’s going to
be okay.”

    After a shower, she felt slightly better.
She lay in her bed in a T-shirt and underwear as Doug brought her a
glass of water and some Advil.
    “ Here,” he said with concerned eyes.
“Drink up.”
    She lifted her head, took the tablets, and
drank them down with the water. The mattress shifted down as Doug
sat next to her.
    “ You just need to